Toll free calling account recharge system and method

ABSTRACT

A calling account recharge system, method, and device are provided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, and typically includes a selector, a communications program configured to communicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and a recharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. The recharge option is configured to cause the communications program to initiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via the communication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-value calling account. The device may be configured to access the communication network via a toll-free gateway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) to the following U.S. provisional patent applications,the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety for all purposes: Serial No. 60/259,325 filed Dec. 29,2000, and Serial No. 60/259,541 filed Jan. 2, 2001.

FILED OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to stored-value callingaccounts and, more particularly, to a system and method for recharging astored-value calling account.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Stored-value calling accounts are used by a large number oftelephone users to place calls around the world. In a typical scenario,a user purchases a wireless telephone linked to a stored-value callingaccount with a balance of, for example, $100 of calling units. The usermay be given a plastic card containing an account number and pin, aswell as a telephone number that the user may call to service theaccount. Such plans are typically commercially marketed under the label“PrePaid Wireless,” and can be distinguished from conventional“post-paid” telephone plans.

[0004] As the user makes calls using the wireless telephone, callingunits are deducted from the account. The deduction may be made either bysoftware in the telephone itself, or by specialized telephone switchingequipment configured to carry such pre-paid telephone calls. At thebeginning of each outbound call, the user is typically prompted with anumber of available minutes, or calling units. A warning tone may beemitted during a call if the account balance falls below a predeterminedminimum threshold. If the account balance reaches zero, the current callwill be disconnected and the user will be prevented from making furthercalls.

[0005] The user may add calling units to the account in a processreferred to as “recharge.” According to current recharge systems,recharge may occur in one of two ways. First, the user may visit aretail outlet of the wireless service provider or an authorized dealerand request that minutes be added to the stored-value account. Secondthe user may call the access number printed on the card discussed above,and request that a customer service representative add time to theaccount. However, the user must typically authorize dial-up rechargewhen opening the stored-value account. Where this option is notpre-authorized by the user, the user typically purchases a newstored-value card at a retail outlet, as discussed above.

[0006] Unfortunately, these current recharge methods are inconvenientfor wireless telephone users. Traveling to a retail location orauthorized dealer is time consuming and expensive. Calling a customerservice representative is inconvenient because the user may be out ofminutes on the wireless telephone. If so, the user will be forced tocall the customer service representative from a different telephone. Inaddition, it is also difficult for the user to remember the accessnumber of the customer service representative, and the telephone cardcontaining the access number may become lost or difficult to locate.Based on the foregoing, alternative approaches for recharging astored-value calling account are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A calling account recharge system, method, and device areprovided. The device has an associated stored-value calling account, andtypically includes a selector, a communications program configured tocommunicate with a recharge service via a communication network, and arecharge option selectable by a user upon actuation of the selector. Therecharge option is configured to cause the communication program toinitiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service via thecommunication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-valuecalling account.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the device includesa user interface having a top menu, and a recharge option installed inthe top menu. The recharge option is, upon selection, configured toinitiate a recharge transaction, in order to add calling units to astored value calling account associated with the wireless telephonedevice.

[0009] The method typically includes installing a recharge option in awireless telephone device. The recharge option is configured to initiatea recharge transaction, in order to add calling units to a stored-valuecalling account associated with the wireless telephone device. Themethod further includes displaying the recharge option on the wirelesstelephone device, receiving a user selection of the recharge option,establishing communication with a recharge service via a communicationnetwork, and initiating the recharge transaction.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the method includesdetecting that a calling balance of a stored value calling account islower than a predetermined threshold, and presenting a recharge optionon a display of the device, the recharge option being configured toinitiate a recharge transaction, in order to add calling units to thestored value calling account.

[0011] The system typically includes a recharge server connected to acommunication network. The recharge server is configured to perform arecharge transaction on a stored-value telephone calling account. Therecharge system also typically includes a web-enabled wireless telephonedevice having a recharge option installed thereon, the recharge optionbeing selectable by a user upon actuation of a user input device on thewireless telephone device. The recharge option is further configured tocause a communication program on the wireless telephone device toinitiate a recharge transaction with the recharge server via acommunication network, in order to add calling units to the stored-valuecalling account.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is schematic view of a stored-value account recharge systemaccording to one embodiment of the invention, showing a recharge optionlinking a wireless telephone device and a recharge service, the rechargeoption being activated by a selector.

[0013]FIG. 2 is another schematic view of the system of FIG. 1, showingdetails of the recharge service 14 and communication network 16.

[0014]FIG. 3 is schematic view showing an exemplary hierarchy ofmechanisms that may be used as the selector of FIG. 1, according tocertain embodiments of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the wireless telephone device ofFIGS. 1 and 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing interaction between the selectorand recharge option of FIG. 2.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing selection of a dedicated rechargemenu via a recharge key.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing selection of a recharge websitevia a recharge key.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing selection of a recharge IVRsystem via a recharge key.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing selection of a multifunction menuvia a scroll key.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing selection of a contacts list viaa contacts key.

[0022]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing selection of a bookmarks listvia a bookmarks key.

[0023]FIG. 12A is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a welcome screen, including a recharge option that leadsto a dedicated recharge menu, illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0024]FIG. 12B is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a scroll key, which may be used to access amultifunction menu, illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0025]FIG. 13 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a menu that is multifunction menu including rechargeoptions, or alternatively a dedicated recharge menu.

[0026]FIG. 14 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing the telephone connecting to a recharge site.

[0027]FIG. 15 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a recharge amount options page at the recharge site.

[0028]FIG. 16 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a recharge pending transaction.

[0029]FIG. 17 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a recharge site home page, with an option to contact acustomer service representative.

[0030]FIG. 18 is a front view of a screen of the wireless telephone ofFIG. 1, showing a pending call to a customer service representative.

[0031]FIG. 19A is a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0032]FIG. 19B is a continuation of the flowchart of the method of FIG.19A, showing a telephone-based recharge transaction.

[0033]FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a toll free access system accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a recharge system according to oneembodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10. Rechargesystem 10 typically includes a wireless telephone device 18 having arecharge option 19 that may be activated by a selector 21, in order toinitiate a recharge transaction with recharge service 14, and addcalling units to a stored-value calling account associated with wirelesstelephone device 18, as described in more detail below.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, wireless telephone device 18 is typicallyconfigured to communicate with recharge service 14 via communicationnetwork 16. Communication network 16 typically includes a wirelessnetwork 30, linked to Wide Area Protocol (WAP) gateway 32 and PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) gateway 34. Wireless network 30 may bea digital or analog cellular network, PCS network, satellite network,radio frequency network, or other wireless network. Wireless telephone18 is configured to access Wide Area Network (WAN) 24, which istypically the Internet, via wireless network 30 and WAP gateway 32.Wireless telephone 18 is also configured to access the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) 28 via PSTN gateway 34.

[0036] Recharge service 14 typically includes a recharge server 36configured to access database records related to stored-value callingaccounts, and, upon request from a user, cause calling units to be addedto the user's stored-value calling account. Recharge service 14typically includes at least three ways by which the user may request therecharge service to add calling time to an account. First, rechargeservice 14 typically includes a recharge website, shown at 36 a in FIG.5, that is served by recharge server 36 to wireless telephone device 18,via WAN 24. The recharge website may also be accessed by user 12 viaanother computing device 20, such as a laptop, desktop, or handheldcomputing device, connected to WAN 24 via an Internet Service Provider(ISP) 26. The recharge website typically has a link, such as rechargeamount option 19 g, by which the user may instruct the recharge serviceto add calling units to the user's stored value calling account.

[0037] Second, the recharge service typically includes an IntegratedVoice Response (IVR) system 40 configured to present an automated,prerecorded voice menu of recharge options to the user in a telephonecall between device 18 and IVR system 40, carried over PSTN 28. Uponselection of on of an IVR menu options, such as recharge amount option19 h shown in FIG. 5, recharge server 36 is configured to cause callingunits to be added to the user's stored value calling account.

[0038] Third, the recharge service typically includes at least oneCustomer Service Representative (CSR) 38 configured to answer telephonecalls from user 12 and present recharge options to the user. Uponselection of an option by the user, the CSR typically instructs rechargeserver 36 to add calling units to the user's stored value callingaccount. It will be appreciated that telephone calls to IVR 40 and/orCSR 38 may be placed by user 12 via wireless telephone device 18, or viaanother telephone 22.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, wireless telephone device 18 is typically aweb-enabled wireless handset having a processor 18 a, a wirelesstransceiver 18 b configured to communicate with wireless network 30, andmemory 18 c. The handset further includes a speaker 18 d and microphone18 e for the user to listen and speak through, as well as a user-inputdevice 18 f (typically a keyboard) and a display 18 g, via which theuser may dial a telephone call and otherwise interact with handset 18.While typically separate components, it will be appreciated that theuser-input device and display may be combined in a touch-sensitivescreen configured to both display information and receive input from theuser. It will also be appreciated that processor 18 a may also beconfigured to recognize voice commands.

[0040] Memory 18 c typically includes non-volatile, preprogrammed memory18 h, such as ROM, volatile memory 18 q, such as RAM, and non-volatile,user-programmable memory 18 i, such as Flash memory. The non-volatilememory 18 h is configured to store an operating system 18 m, whichincludes instructions for the basic operations and user interface ofhandset 18, as well as communications program(s) 18 n. As used hereinthe term “program” refers to a set of instructions interpretable by acomputer, and may refer to one or more data files or executable filescontaining such instructions.

[0041] Communications program(s) 18 n typically include a telephonecommunications program 18 o configured to manage telephone calls placedand received through the wireless network 30, and a web browser 18 pconfigured to download web pages from remote websites via WAP gateway32, and present the web pages on display 18 g.

[0042] User-programmable memory 18 i is typically configured to store auser-programmable contact list 18 l of telephone numbers, anduser-programmable bookmarks 18 k. As used herein, the term “bookmark”refers to a link interpretable by web browser 18 p to link the user to adestination website, and the term “contact” refers to a linkinterpretable by telephone communications program 18 o to place a callto a destination telephone number.

[0043] While wireless telephone device 18 is typically a wirelesshandset as shown in FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that wirelesstelephone device 18 also may be a telephone-equipped PDA, head-mountedwireless telephone, or other wireless telephone device.

[0044] Typically, wireless telephone 18 is associated with astored-value calling account, the balance of which may be stored on thehandset itself, or in a database associated with the telephone carrier.As the user places calls to various locations using the calling account,calling units (typically denominated in minutes) are subtracted from thecurrent account balance. When the account is low, the user may wish toadd calling units to the account, in a process referred to as recharge.

[0045] As discussed above, to recharge the stored-value calling account,the user may choose recharge option 19 by actuating selector 21 on thewireless telephone 18. In response to selection of the recharge option,the recharge option is configured to cause communication program 18 n toinitiate a recharge transaction with the recharge service 14 via thecommunication network 16, in order to add calling units to thestored-value calling account.

[0046] The communication link between the wireless telephone 18 and therecharge service 14 may occur in one of two basic modes, a web-basedmode or a telephone-based mode. For web-based calling account recharge,the recharge option is configured to cause the web browser 18 p tocontact a recharge server 36 of the recharge service via the WAN, anddownload a recharge web site for display on wireless telephone device18, as shown in FIG. 15. For telephone-based calling account recharge,the recharge option is typically configured to cause the telephonecommunications program 18 o to contact the IVR system 40 or CSR 38 ofrecharge service 14, via a telephone call placed over the PSTN 28.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, selector 21 may be any one of a variety ofselectors, including a hard key with a single “hard-wired” function, asoft key that changes function depending on the mode of the userinterface, a touch screen graphical icon or word icon, or a voicecommand. One example of a hard key is the scroll key 21 d, discussedbelow. Although the scroll key may be used to scroll through a varietyof menus, its retains a single function, i.e., to scroll, and thus, forthe purposes of this application, it is a “hard” key. Examples of “soft”keys include the contacts key 21 a, bookmarks key 21 b, and recharge key21 c, all described below.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the user may select a contacts softkey selector 21 a on wireless telephone device 18 to display a contactlist 18 l, and further may select a recharge contact option 19 a fromthe contact list. Selection of recharge contact option 19 a causestelephone communications program 18 o to initiate a telephone call torecharge IVR 40, or alternatively to CSR 38. The IVR 40 and CSR 38 areeach configured to present a one or more recharge amount options 19 h tothe user, from which the user may select a desired amount. Onceselected, the recharge transaction is fulfilled, and calling units areadded to the stored value calling account.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the user may select a bookmarks softkey selector 21 b on wireless telephone device 18 to display a bookmarklist 18 k, and further may select a recharge bookmark option 19 b fromthe bookmark list. Selection of recharge bookmark option 19 b causes webbrowser 18 p to request recharge website 36 a from recharge server 36.Typically recharge website 36 a includes one or more recharge amountoptions 19 g, from which the user may select a desired amount. Onceselected, the recharge transaction is fulfilled, and calling time isadded to the stored value calling account.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the user may also select a rechargekey 21 c, which typically causes a dedicated recharge menu 25 to bedisplayed on display 18 g of wireless telephone device 18. The dedicatedrecharge menu 25 typically includes recharge via web option 19 c andrecharge via telephone option 19 d, the selection of which respectivelycauses the wireless telephone device 18 to connect to recharge website36 a or recharge IVR menu 40 a/CSR menu 38 a. Recharge website 36 aincludes one or more recharge amount options 19 g. Similarly, rechargeIVR/CSR menus 40 a, 38 a include one or more recharge amount options 19h. It will be appreciated that the recharge key 21 c may also beconfigured to directly link the wireless telephone device 18 to rechargewebsite 36 a or recharge IVR/CSR menu 40 a, 38 a, as indicated by dashedlines in FIG. 5. Selection of recharge amount options 19 g, 19 h by auser causes recharge server 36 to add calling units to the user'scalling account.

[0051] FIGS. 6-11 show user interaction scenarios according to variousembodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, wirelesstelephone device 18 may be configured such that actuation of rechargekey 21 c causes a dedicated recharge menu 25 to appear on display 18 g.

[0052] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, wireless telephone device 18may be configured such that actuation of recharge key 21 c causes arecharge website 36 a to appear on display 18 g. While typically aplurality of recharge amount options 19 g are presented to the user, itwill be appreciated that the recharge option may be configured to causethe communications program to contact the recharge server 36 of rechargeservice 14 and add a predetermined recharge amount 19i to thestored-value calling account. To save time, the predetermined rechargeamount is typically added to the calling account without furtheruser-input, and payment for the predetermined recharge amount is billedaccording to information stored in a user profile on record with therecharge service.

[0053] As yet another alternative, shown in FIG. 8, wireless telephonedevice 18 may be configured such that actuation of recharge key 21 ccauses telephone 18 to connect to recharge IVR menu 40 a. As shown inFIG. 9, wireless telephone device 18 may also be configured such thatactuation of a scroll key 21 d causes a multifunction menu 27 to appearon display 18 g. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wireless telephone device18 may be configured such that actuation of a contacts key 21 a orbookmarks key 21 b causes a contacts list 181 or bookmarks list 18 k,respectively, to appear on display 18 g.

[0054] FIGS. 12A-18 show an exemplary user interface of wirelesstelephone device 18. FIG. 12A shows a start-up screen or “welcomescreen” 42 of wireless device 18. Typically wireless telephone device 18is configured to detect whether the balance of a stored-value accountassociated with the telephone is below a predetermined threshold value.If the balance is detected upon start up to be below the predeterminedthreshold, start-up screen 42 typically displays a low-balance indicator44 in order to indicate to the user that the account balance of thestored-value calling account has dropped below the predeterminedthreshold. Start-up screen 42 is also typically configured to display arecharge option 19, actuatable by recharge soft key 21 c. According toone embodiment of the invention, the recharge option 19 may be presentedonly if the account balance is below the predetermined threshold.Alternatively, the recharge option 19 may be presented each time thewireless telephone device 18 is turned on.

[0055] Upon user actuation of recharge option 19 from start-up screen42, wireless telephone device 18 is configured to display a dedicatedrecharge menu 25, as shown in FIG. 13. Typically, the dedicated rechargemenu only includes menu options related to recharging the stored-valuecalling account associated with the wireless telephone device. Ofcourse, one wireless telephone device 18 may have several stored-valuecalling accounts associated therewith, and therefore, recharge menu 25may include options to recharge more than one account.

[0056]FIG. 12B shows a top menu 46 of wireless telephone device 18. Asused herein the term “top menu” refers to the highest-level menu in themenu hierarchy of the user interface of wireless telephone 18, and isthe menu displayed to the user while the device is at rest. Top menu 46typically includes a recharge option 19 actuatable by recharge key 21 cand a scroll option 31 actuatable by a scroll key 21 d. Scroll key 21 dnis configured to scroll through a multifunction menu, shown at 27 inFIG. 13. According to one embodiment of the invention, the user canselect the recharge option 19 directly from the top menu by one touch ofselector 21 c, and be connected to recharge website 36 a, shown in FIG.15. This feature of the invention is referred to as “one-touch recharge”or “one-button recharge.” Additionally, the user can press scroll key 21d from top menu 46 and cause multifunction menu 27 to be displayed. Frommultifunction menu 27, the user can select recharge by web option 19 gor recharge by telephone option 19 f. Because the user touches thebuttons of wireless telephone device 18 twice before being connected torecharge website 36 a, this feature of the invention is referred to as“two-touch recharge” or “two-button recharge.”

[0057]FIG. 12C shows a recharge menu, which may be the dedicatedrecharge menu 25 or multifunction recharge menu 27 as discussed above.The recharge menu typically includes a recharge by web option 19 c, 19 gconfigured to connect the wireless telephone device 18 to rechargewebsite 36 a, and/or a recharge by telephone option 19 d, 19 fconfigured to initiate a telephone call to IVR system 40 or CSR 38.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 14, upon selection of recharge by web option 19c, 19 g the wireless telephone device is configured to connect torecharge server 36, in order to download a recharge amount options page36 a′ of recharge website 36 a. Typically, the user navigates therecharge menu 25, 27 using the scroll button and selects a desiredrecharge option using select key 37. The scroll and select buttonsfunction similarly for the screens shown in FIG. 15 and 17.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 15, recharge options page 36 a′ typicallyincludes a plurality of recharge amount options 19 g and a link 33,which upon selection, initiates a telephone call to a customer servicerepresentative 38 at the recharge service 14, as shown in FIG. 18.

[0060] Upon selection of a desired recharge amount option 19 g′,recharge server 36 is configured to process the recharge request and addthe desired amount of time to the user's stored-value calling account.The user may be prompted by recharge server 36 to enter paymentinformation via wireless telephone device 18, or the fee may be chargedaccording to payment information stored in a pre-entered user profileaccessible by recharge server 36.

[0061] Once the transaction has been completed, an order completionmessage may sent by recharge server 36 for display to the user, as shownin FIG. 16. After the recharge transaction, the user is typicallyreturned to a home page 36 a″ of the recharge site 36 a, as shown inFIG. 17. The home page typically includes a link to recharge optionspage 36 a′, a link configured to enable a user to edit a user profile,and a link 33 to contact a customer service representative. The userprofile typically contains (1) payment information such as a paymentnumber, (2) stored-value calling account information such as the accountnumber, balance, and PIN, (3) wireless telephone device information suchas the wireless telephone number, (4) a predetermined recharge amount 19i (if any) that the user would like to be automatically added to theuser's account upon selection of a recharge option the user's telephonedevice.

[0062] Turning now to FIGS. 19A and 19B, a method according to oneembodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 100. Method100 typically includes, at 102, installing a recharge option 19 on awireless telephone device 18 having an associated stored-value callingaccount. Typically, the recharge option 19 is a contact entry 19 a,bookmark entry 19 b, recharge by web option 19 c, 19 e, or a recharge bytelephone option 19 d, 19 f, as described above, and is actuatable by aselector 21 on the device. It will be appreciated that the rechargeoption may alternatively take a wide variety of other forms. Typicallythe recharge option is selectable by a user by at most one touch, oralternatively by at most two touches from the top menu of the wirelesstelephone device.

[0063] At 104, the method typically includes the user turning on thewireless telephone device 18. At 106, the method typically includesdetecting that a stored-value calling account balance is below apredetermined threshold, and displaying an indicator 44 to indicate thelow balance to the user, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. At 108, themethod typically includes displaying a recharge option 19 on thewireless telephone device. The recharge option may be displayed uponstart-up, in a top menu of the wireless device, as an option in amultifunction menu, as an option in a dedicated recharge menu, as abookmark, as a contact, or in another suitable manner, as discussedabove.

[0064] At 110, the method typically includes receiving a user selectionof a recharge option. Typically the recharge option is for web-basedrecharge, in which case the method proceeds to step 112, or is fortelephone-based recharge, in which case the method proceeds to step 124in FIG. 19B. These two options may be selected by recharge by web option19 c, 19 g, and recharge by telephone 19 d, 19 e, respectively, as shownin FIG. 13.

[0065] At 112, the method typically includes connecting the wirelesstelephone device 18 to recharge server 36 via WAP gateway 32 and WAN 24,which is typically the Internet. At 114, the method typically includesdownloading a recharge site 36 a from recharge server 36 and displayingthe site on display 18 g of wireless telephone device 18, as shown inFIG. 15.

[0066] At 116, the method typically includes receiving a user selectionof a recharge amount, typically by user selection of recharge amountoption 19 g or 19 h, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 15. At 118, the methodtypically includes applying fraud detection measures to the user'sorder. Exemplary fraud detection measures are described in co-pendingU.S. patent app. Ser. No. 09/479,768, entitled “Fraud Prevention Systemand Method,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporated byreference.

[0067] If there is a problem in fraud detection the user is typicallytransferred to a customer service representative. In addition, atvirtually any other time during the recharge process, the user mayselect a “call to service representative” option 33 from the rechargehome page 36 a″ or recharge amount options page 36 a′. This option willplace a call via the PSTN from wireless handset 18 to customer servicerepresentative 38.

[0068] At 120, the method typically includes processing the order byadding time to the account, as shown in FIG. 16. The account balance maybe stored in software on wireless telephone 18, in a database located atthe recharge service, at a third party carrier or elsewhere. At 122, themethod returns the user to the recharge site home page 36 a″, shown inFIG. 17.

[0069] After step 110, the method may also include the user selecting“recharge via telephone” option 19 d, 19 f from menu 25, 27, as shown inFIG. 13. Upon such selection, the method typically includes, at 124,connecting wireless telephone device 18 to a CSR 38 or IVR system 40 viaPSTN 28. A screen showing the pending connection is illustrated in FIG.18.

[0070] At 126, the method further includes presenting recharge amountoptions 19 h to the user, either via CSR 38 or IVR 40. At 130, themethod includes receiving a user selected recharge amount option. Theuser may key in the option to a telephone keypad of wireless telephone18, or may speak the selected option, which will be recognized by avoice recognition software module within IVR 40. At 130, the methodfurther includes applying fraud detection measures, as discussed abovein step 118. If no fraud is detected, then the method includesprocessing the order at 132, which is accomplished in a similar mannerto step 120 described above. After the order is processed, the call isended at 134.

[0071] Turning now to FIG. 4, a toll free access system is showngenerally at 200. Toll free access system 200 typically includes awireless handset 202, a toll free gateway 204, and a plurality of websites 206. Typically, web sites 206 are merchant sites at which the usermay purchase goods and/or services. Typically, toll free gateway 204 islocated at a predetermined, provisioned telephone number that users ofwireless handset 202 may access, free of charge. A web page is servedfrom a server located at toll free gateway 204 to telephone 202,featuring a list of remote web sites 206. Prior web enabled telephoneshave been configured to access the Internet on a metered basis. That is,typically the user has been charged for each minute of “connect time”during which wireless telephone 18 is connected to the Internet viawireless network 30. In contrast, gateway 204 is configured for tollfree access. The user does not incur any long distance or per minutewireless access charges to call the gateway 204. Thus, the user mayaccess the gateway, and the various web sites 206 linked thereto,without incurring any wireless access or long distance charges. Thus,even when user's prepaid calling account has a zero balance, the user isable to call gateway 204 and shop at merchant web sites 206. Typically,the user's telephone carrier has configured its telephone switches todetect when the user dials the predetermined telephone number of thegateway 204, and prevent connect time access charges from being appliedto the call. The present system has the advantage that users are notcharged for shopping at merchant sites 206. Thus, users may spend moretime shopping at these sites free of charge, and make more purchases,thereby benefiting both the consumer and the merchant.

[0072] It will be appreciated that the toll-free gateway 204 may beimplemented in system 10, in order to provide wireless telephone device18 toll-free access to the communication network 16 when communicatingwith the recharge service. In this case the communication program istypically configured to initiate a web-based or telephonebased rechargetransaction by sending an accompanying signal to the communicationnetwork that the recharge web access or telephone call should be tollfree, and the communication network is configured to respond by routingthe call in a toll-free manner. In this scenario, recharge service 14 isone of the merchant sites A-C.

[0073] The above described embodiments of the present invention may beused by a wireless telephone device user to recharge a stored-valuecalling account associated with a wireless telephone device, in a moreconvenient and efficient manner than prior recharge systems.

[0074] While the present invention has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, thoseskilled in the art will understand that many variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.The description of the invention should be understood to include allnovel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, andclaims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel andnon-obvious combination of these elements. Where the claims recite “a”or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should beunderstood to include incorporation of one or more such elements,neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

We claim:
 1. A wireless telephone device having an associatedstored-value calling account, the wireless telephone device comprising:a selector; a communications program configured to communicate with arecharge service via a communication network; a recharge optionselectable by a user upon actuation of the selector, the recharge optionbeing configured to cause the communications program to initiate arecharge transaction with the recharge service via the communicationnetwork, in order to add calling units to the stored-value callingaccount.
 2. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein thecommunication network includes a WAN, and the recharge option isconfigured to cause the communications program to contact a rechargeserver of the recharge service via the WAN.
 3. The wireless telephonedevice of claim 2, wherein the recharge server is a web server, thecommunications program includes a web browser, and the recharge optionis a link to the web server of the recharge service.
 4. The wirelesstelephone device of claim 3, wherein selection of the link causes theweb browser to download a recharge web site for display on the wirelesstelephone device.
 5. The wireless telephone device of claim 4, whereinthe recharge web site displayed on the wireless telephone deviceincludes a user-selectable recharge amount.
 6. The wireless telephonedevice of claim 3, wherein the recharge option is a bookmark that is,upon selection, configured to download a web page from the rechargeserver at the recharge service.
 7. The wireless telephone device ofclaim 2, wherein the recharge option is configured to cause thecommunications program to contact a recharge server of the rechargeservice and add a predetermined recharge amount to the stored-valuecalling account.
 8. The wireless telephone device of claim 7, whereinthe predetermined recharge amount is added to the calling accountwithout further user-input.
 9. The wireless telephone device of claim 7,wherein the fee for the predetermined recharge amount is billedaccording to information stored in a user profile on record with therecharge service.
 10. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, whereinthe communications program includes a telephone communications programand the communication network includes the PSTN, and wherein selectionof the recharge option is configured to cause the telephonecommunications program to initiate a telephone call to the rechargeservice.
 11. The telephone device of claim 10, wherein the rechargeoption is configured to initiate a telephone call to an Integrated VoiceResponse system at the recharge service.
 12. The telephone device ofclaim 10, wherein the recharge option is configured to initiate atelephone call to a live customer service representative at the rechargeservice.
 13. The wireless telephone device of claim 10, wherein therecharge option is an entry in a contacts list, the entry, uponselection, being configured to cause the telephone communicationsprogram to initiate a telephone call to the recharge service.
 14. Thewireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein the selector is a key. 15.The wireless telephone device of claim 14, wherein the selector is softkey.
 16. The wireless telephone device of claim 14, wherein the selectoris a hard key.
 17. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein theselector is an icon on a touch screen.
 18. The wireless telephone deviceof claim 1, wherein the selector is a voice command.
 19. The wirelesstelephone device of claim 1, wherein the recharge option is presentedalong with a start up menu of the telephone.
 20. The wireless telephonedevice of claim 1, further comprising, a low-balance indicatorconfigured to indicate to the user that the account balance of thestored-value calling account has dropped below a predeterminedthreshold.
 21. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, wherein therecharge option is selectable by at most one touch by the user, from atop menu of the wireless telephone device.
 22. The wireless telephonedevice of claim 1, wherein the recharge option is selectable by at mosttwo touches by the user, from a top menu of the wireless telephonedevice.
 23. The wireless telephone device of claim 1, whereincommunication program is configured to access a toll-free gateway in thecommunication network when communicating with the recharge service. 24.A method of recharging a stored-value calling account, comprising:installing a recharge option in a wireless telephone device, therecharge option being configured to initiate a recharge transaction, inorder to add calling units to a stored-value calling account associatedwith the wireless telephone device; displaying the recharge option onthe wireless telephone device; receiving a user selection of therecharge option; establishing communication with a recharge service viaa communication network; and initiating the recharge transaction. 25.The method of claim 24, further comprising: detecting that a balance ofthe stored-value calling account associated with the wireless telephonedevice is below a predetermined amount.
 26. The method of claim 25,wherein the step of detecting occurs upon power-up of the device. 27.The method of claim 24, wherein the recharge option is displayed on astart-up menu of the device.
 28. The method of claim 24, wherein therecharge option is displayed as a menu option on a display of thewireless telephone device.
 29. The method of claim 24, wherein therecharge option is displayed as an icon on a display of the wirelesstelephone device.
 30. The method of claim 25, the user selection of therecharge option is made by selection of a menu option on the display.31. The method of claim 25, the user selection of the recharge option ismade by selection of a key on the wireless telephone device.
 32. Themethod of claim 31, the key is a soft key.
 33. The method of claim 31,the key is a hard key, dedicated to performing a recharge function. 34.The method of claim 24, wherein, from a top menu of the wirelesstelephone device, the recharge option is configured to be selected by atmost one touch of a key by a user.
 35. The method of claim 24, wherein,from a top menu of the wireless telephone device, the recharge option isconfigured to be selected by at most two touches of keys on the wirelesstelephone device by a user.
 36. The method of claim 24, wherein the stepof establishing communication includes sending a message from thewireless telephone device to a recharge server at the recharge service,via a WAN.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the wireless telephonedevice includes a web browser, the method further comprising,downloading a recharge web site from the recharge service, anddisplaying the web site on the wireless telephone.
 38. The method ofclaim 37, wherein the recharge option a bookmark on the wirelesstelephone device, the bookmark leading to the recharge web site.
 39. Themethod of claim 37, wherein the recharge website includes a rechargeamount option, the method further comprising, receiving user selectionof the recharge amount option.
 40. The method of claim 24, furthercomprising, applying fraud detection measures to the transaction. 41.The method of claim 24, further comprising, processing the rechargetransaction and adding calling units to the stored value account. 42.The method of claim 24, wherein the recharge option is a telephone linkto the recharge service, and establishing communication is accomplishedat least in part by calling the recharge service via the PSTN.
 43. Themethod of claim 42, wherein the recharge option is a telephone link toan Integrated Voice Response system at the recharge service.
 44. Themethod of claim 42, wherein the recharge option is a telephone link to alive customer service representative at the recharge service.
 45. Themethod of claim 41, wherein the recharge option an entry in a contactslist on the wireless telephone device.
 46. The method of claim 24,wherein communication is established at least partially via a toll-freegateway on the communication network.
 47. A pre-paid wireless telephonerecharge system, comprising: a recharge server connected to acommunication network, the recharge server being configured to perform arecharge transaction on a stored-value telephone calling account; and aweb-enabled wireless telephone device having a recharge option installedthereon, the recharge option being selectable by a user upon actuationof a user input device on the wireless telephone device, the rechargeoption further being configured to cause a communication program on thewireless telephone device to initiate a recharge transaction with therecharge server via a communication network, in order to add callingunits to the stored-value calling account.
 48. The system of claim 47,wherein, from a top menu of the wireless telephone device, the rechargeoption configured to be selectable by a user of the wireless telephonedevice by at most two touches of a user input device of the wirelesstelephone device.
 49. The system of claim 47, wherein, from a top menuof the wireless telephone device, the recharge option configured to beselectable by a user of the wireless telephone device by at most ontouch of a user input device of the wireless telephone device.
 50. Thesystem of claim 47, wherein communication network includes a WAN, andthe communication program includes a web browser, and wherein uponselection of the recharge option, the web browser is configured todownload a recharge website from a recharge server at the rechargeservice.
 51. The system of claim 47, wherein communication networkincludes the PSTN, and the communication program includes a telephonecommunications program, and wherein upon selection of the rechargeoption, the telephone communications program is configured to place atelephone call to the recharge service.
 52. The system of claim 47,wherein the communication network includes a toll-free gateway, and thecommunication program is configured to route traffic related to therecharge transaction through the toll-free gateway.
 53. A wirelesstelephone device, including: a user interface having a top menu; arecharge option installed in the top menu, the recharge option being,upon selection, configured to initiate a recharge transaction, in orderto add calling units to a stored value calling account associated withthe wireless telephone device.
 54. A method for use in a wirelesstelephone device having a display, the method comprising: detecting thata calling balance of a stored value calling account is lower than apredetermined threshold; and presenting a recharge option on a displayof the device, the recharge option being configured to initiate arecharge transaction, in order to add calling units to the stored valuecalling account.